Electrical apparatus.



No. 738,828. PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903.

' W. J. LLOYD.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 9I 1902.

N0 MODEL. SHEETS-SHEET 1,

WILLIAM J. LLOYD 325 {N61 S MQI/IP/la No. 738,823. PATBNTED SEPT. 15, 1903. W. J. LLOYD.

' ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1902.

H0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

zno. 738,823.

UNITED STATES memes September 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. LLOYD, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO STAN- LEY ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

SQEGTFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,823, dated September 15, 1903.

Application filed September 9,1902. Serial No. 122,7 25- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, Berkshire county, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to electrical appara- IO tus which is timed to operate so as to accomplish its function after some delay instead-of instantaneously. While it is capable of use in other connections, Ihave found it specially advantageous in connection with circuitopeners. In that relation the object of the apparatus is to delay the opening of the cir cuit breaker or opener any desired time. The amount of time it is desirable to have elapse before the circuit-breaker opens depends largely upon its location with reference to other circuit-breakers in the system. For instance, if the retarding device is put on the main circuit-breaker designed to operate upon excess of current in the system it is de- 2 5 sirable that the opening of this circuitbreaker be delayed sufficiently long to allow the circuit-breaker of the branch circuit or circuits carrying excessive current to open first. Again, certain classes of electrical gen- 0 erators, even on short circuits, willnot supply more than a fixed maximum quantity of current, which maximum How of current may be delivered by the machine for a certain length of time without in any way injuring it. Hence 3 5 it is allowable in the circuit-breaker for such a machine to have its opening retarded until such time has elapsed that further delay of such maximum current becomes dangerous to the machine and to then open the circuit.

o Again,' it is evident that if an excessive load does come on the generator or systemand then before it has been maintained a dangerous length of time the load becomes again normal it is desirable that the retarding devices on the circuit-breakers should return to their normal condition without opening the circuit. All these results are accomplished by my apparatus.

Two embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 represents an apparatus applied to either a direct or alternating current circuit. Fig. 2 represents a form of apparatus particularly adapted for an alternating-current circuit and embodying the use of a timed relay. Fig. 3 shows a detail of the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l 2 represent the conductors of a circuit, to which terminals 3 3 are connected. 6o 4 is a switch-bar connecting said terminals.

5 is a spring attached to said switch-bar normally tending to open the same.

6 is a detent pivoted at 7 and normally engaging the catch 8 upon the switch-bar 4, so as to hold the bar in engagement with the terminals 3 3. Y

S is a solenoid having the core 0, which when the current is normal projects as shown. When, however, the currentis abnormal, the core C tends to rise within the solenoid, and if allowed to move freely it would at once rise so as tohit the projection 11, causing the detent 6 to release the catch 8 and permitting the spring 5 to immediately withdraw the switch-bar 4 from the terminals 3. In order to delay the movement of the core C, it is provided with a rack R, engaging with the trainof gears G, which train ends in a conducting-disk D, and when the train is operated by the movement of the rack R this disk revolves between the poles of the electromagnet M, which electromagnet is preferably in series with the solenoid S in the circuit 1 2. With this construction when the current in the solenoid S becomes so great as to lift the core C,with its rack R,the movement of these parts is retarded by the action of the magnet M upon the revolving conductingdisk D. This action can be controlled by moving the poles of the magnet M toward or from the center of the disk D, the screw m being for that purpose. It can also be controlled by varying the magnetic flux of the magnet M by cutting in or out a greater or less number of turns by the switch m, as shown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement the release of the switch-bar 4 can be very accurotate between the poles of the electromagnet M. The electromagnet M dampens and tends to retard the rotation of the disk D. The amount of this dampening depends upon the current flowing around the magnet M; but at the same time the pull on the core 0 depends on the current flowing around the solenoid S, so that the greater the current the greater the pull tending to suck up the core 0, but at the same time the greater the retarding force ofthe magnet M. Hence the rate at which the core 0 moves in the solenoid is practically independent of the amount of the abnormal current. lVhen the core has moved far enough to disengage the rack R from the first gear of the train G, it is then free to move and goes the rest of the way into the solenoid with great rapidity, hits the projection 11 of the detent 6, disengaging the detent from the catch 8, allowing the spring 5 to withdraw the blades of the bar 4 from the terminals 3, and opening the circuit. As soon as the circuit is open the core 0 descends and the operating mechanism sets itself automatically.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, T and T are two transformers in series with the circuitl 2. S and S are two solenoids operating, respectively, the timing mechanism and the circuit-breaker. C and O are the cores of these solenoids, respectively. R is a rack attached to the core 0, any movement of which is communicated, by means of gears, to the conducting-disk D, which rotates between the poles of the electromagnet M. On the rod R are placed two stops 1' i, which throw the switch member I into and out of engagement with the contacts J J respectively. J represents contacts which are engaged by the lower end of the rod R, short-circuiting the magnet M, so as to normally cut it out of circuit. The conductor. 2 is connected with the terminals 3 3, which in turn are engaged by the switch-bar t, to the heel of which is fastened spring 5, normally tending to disengage the bar4 from the terminals 3. 6 is a detent pivoted at 7 and engaging with the catch 8 upon the switch-bar 4E, holding the same in contact with the terminals 8. 11 is aprojection from the detent 6, which when the solenoid S is energized is hit by the core 0, which thus acts to release the switch-bar 4 and open the circuit at the terminals 3 3.

In the apparatus of Fig. 2 under normal conditions the parts are in the position shown in the drawings, the current flowing from the transformer T to the solenoid S, the magnet M being short-circuited. The solenoid S is also short-circuited at the terminals J by the switch member I, the short-circuiting reducing the energy consumed in the secondary of the transformer. If now an excessive current flows, the solenoid S is energized and sucks up the core 0. ()carries with it the rack R, the motion of which is communicated to the disk D, which immediately begins to rotate; The lifting of the rack R opens the circuit at the contacts J whereupon the current flowing through the solenoid S also flows through the energizing-coil of the magnet M, and the rotation of the disk is dampened in proportion to the current-flow, so that the core 0 enters the solenoid at a rate which is practically independent of the current through the solenoid. The uniform movement of the core 0 and rod R continues until the rack disengages with the first gear of the train, after which the core moves more rapidly. In the course of the movement of the rod R the stop 2" engages with the switcharm I, throwing it into engagement with the contacts J the spring 2' acting to hold it in either of the extreme positions. The opening of the contact J opens the short circuit on the solenoid S and causes the current from the secondary of the transformer T to pass through that solenoid. If now the current has maintained its abnormal value, the core 0 is sucked up until it strikes the projection 11 and unlatches the detent from the catch 8, permitting the arm 4 to be withdrawn from the terminals 3 by the spring 5, attached to its heel. If, however, the current has in the meantime returned to its normal Value,

the solenoid S cannot lift the core 0 and the breaker does not operate. In the relay device the connecting of the contacts J by the switch-arm I short-circuits the secondary of the series transformer T. This deenergizes the solenoid S and allows core 0 to fall back into its original position, in doing which the stopt' throws the switch-arm I into its original position in contact with the terminals J, resetting the apparatus, so that it is ready to start again upon the closing of the switch-arm 4.

My invention is not limited to any particular form of circuit-breaker or motive device and is capable of being embodied in many and various structures.-

That I claim is 1. In a system of distribution, an electromagnetic device, an armature therefor tending to be attracted to a given position, an electromagnetic brake retarding the movement of said armature and means for causing like variations of the magnetic'effects of said electromagnetic device and brake, and a circuit-opening mechanism actuated by said armature.

2. In a system of distribution, an electromagnetic device, an armature therefor tending to be attracted to a given position, an-

electromagnetic brake retarding the movement of said armature, the coils of said electromagnetic device and of said electromagnetic brake being connected so that the current variations in each will correspond, and a circuit-opening mechanism actuated by said armature.

3. In a system of distribution, an electromagnetic device, an armature therefor tending to return to a given position, an electromagnetic brake retarding the movement of said armature and in series with said electromagnetic device, and a switch mechanism aotuated by said armature.

4. In a system of distribution an electromagnetic device, an armature therefor tending to return to a given position, means for retarding the movement of said armature, a second magneto-electric device, an armature therefor, mechanism actuated by said second armature, and means actuated by said first armature for controlling the current through said second electromagnetic device.

5. In combination a solenoid, acore therefor, a conducting-disk revolved by said. core, a magnet embracing said disk, a second solenoid, a second core therefor and a switch controlling the said second solenoid and actnated by said first core and mechanism actuated by said second core.

6. In combination, a solenoid, a core therefor, a conducting-disk revolved by said core,

a magnet embracing said disk, a second solenoid, a'second core therefor and a switch controlling the said second solenoid and actuated by said first core and a switch-retaining pawl actuated by said second core.

7. In combination a solenoid, a core therefor, an electromagnetic brake retarding the movement of said core and in series with said solenoid, and switch mechanism actuated by said core.

8. In a system of distribution, a distribution-circuit, a restrained switch therein, an electromagnetic mechanism in series therewith and acting to release said switch, and an electromagnetic brake for retarding the action of said electromagnetic mechanism the coils of said brake and of said mechanism being so connected that the current variations in each will correspond.

9. In a system of distribution, a distribution-circuit, a restrained switch therein, an electromagnetic mechanism in series with and acting to release said switch, and an electromagnetic brake tending to retard the action of said electromagnetic mechanism and in series therewith.

Signed at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, this 2d day of September, 1902.

WILLIAM J. LLOYD.

Witnesses:

O. H. P. FAUT, LEONARD WILSON. 

